I feel therefore I am

There's this scene amongst the excess amount of comedy in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. It's when Peter Quill is asking where Gamora is, and Tony Stark retorts, "Yeah, I'll do you one better, who is Gamora?". To which Drax chimes in "I'll do you one better why is Gamora?". The most important question they don't ask is how is Gamora. It seems like no one cares to know Gamora feels. Often we ask each other about, what activities we're engaged in, and not so much about how we are feeling.
Watching infants process emotions has always fascinated me. Whenever a baby is hungry it cries, when it misses a parent it cries, when it needs a diaper change it cries. Babies cry a lot, but a lot they're experiencing new emotions and feelings a lot. I can't remember the first time I felt sad, but I do know there was a first time, and I probably cried. The first time we feel something, it always turns out to be monumental. Something within us rises to the surface, it could be a burst of laughter, a flood of tears as you bawl, or having to clench your jaw as though you were opening a walnut.  Emotions fuel us to act in ways that are peculiar, to say the least.

So it leads me to question, are we as we feel? Does our emotional state determine how we are most likely to function? I too find myself in this folly, being swept up into a bender of emotions, and even breaking out of character at times. Afterwards, if any of my previous behaviour was out of line, I  excuse myself by saying that, I had been under the influence of my feelings. The law in many countries does not permit for one to drive when in a heavily emotional state, yet we lead our lives in a frenzy of emotions. 

In the book of Proverbs a fitting image is painted in the following verse.

 Whoever is slow to anger is better than the mighty, and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.
Proverbs 16:32 ESV

One of the greatest conquests is that of oneself, especially over our emotions. The first step is to know your enemy. Take the time to stop and identify what it is you're feeling. You could also try to see if there's a causality to the why you're acting. It may save you a lot in the future. 

Here's what I want us to do, develop the habit of checking how you're doing. I think it changes a lot if we can at least admit to ourselves when we feel a certain way. The other thing is to process these emotions they're meant to be felt. For me, although I've been very truant about it, I usually try to journal what's going on. Find an outlet for yourself too. I have a dear friend, who when he's feeling grumpy, he avoids people. How are you feeling readers? I hope you're in a place of emotional stability. 



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